Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the recent decision by the government of the Cayman Islands to recognise LGBT relationships in law, what steps they are taking to ensure that LGBT citizens of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Monserrat, and Northern Ireland have the right to enter into a same sex marriage.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
After the Cayman Islands court judgement (which has been appealed by the Cayman Island Government) ten Overseas Territories have legal recognition and protection for same sex relationships. The British Overseas Territories are separate, largely self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically elected representatives. Our relationship with the Overseas Territories is based on partnership and therefore as policy on marriage law is an area of devolved responsibility it should be for the territories to decide and legislate on. As has been demonstrated by recent LGBT cases, the Territories' justice mechanisms and processes should be allowed the space to address these matters. We are working to encourage those Territories that have not put in place arrangements to recognise and protect same sex relationships, to do so, and continue to engage with all the Overseas Territories to ensure that their legislation is compliant with their international human rights obligations. We continue to raise LGBT rights and broader human rights obligations consistently with the leaders of Overseas Territories - both bilaterally, and at the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Councils. This is also a matter that is raised by Governors' Offices.
As marriage is devolved in Northern Ireland, any question of reform to law or policy is rightly one for a devolved Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland to carefully consider and debate. The Government would hope and encourage a restored Executive to progress legislation on this issue.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to authorities in Chechnya regarding the disappearance of Zelim Bakeav in August 2017.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains deeply concerned by the disappearance of Zelim Bakaev and the persecution of many other individuals in Chechnya due to their sexual orientation. Together with our international partners, we continue to raise our serious concerns with the Russian authorities in a number of multilateral fora – including the UN, Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the release and safe return of all those abducted and urging them to investigate fully and bring those responsible to justice.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the living conditions for gay men in Chechnya, including whether those conditions have changed for the better or worse in 2017.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have long held concerns about the human rights situation in Chechnya, in particular the hostile environment for members of the LGBT community. We assess the situation to have deteriorated significantly in 2017, and remain deeply concerned by the continued detention, torture and murder of LGBT people. Statements attributed to the authorities in Chechnya, implying that such treatment towards LGBT people is acceptable, are particularly abhorrent and could incite further violence against LGBT persons.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Russia regarding violence against, and the detention of, people who are perceived, or identify, as LGBT in Chechnya.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials from our Embassy in Moscow have raised our concerns at a senior level with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 28 April, the Foreign Secretary, together with his Dutch, German, French and Swedish counterparts, co-signed a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov urging the Russian Government to investigate the reports and ensure the safety of activists and journalists investigating these abuses. The UK has also taken action in a number of multilateral fora; making our concerns clear in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe and the UN Human Rights Council.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what assistance they have offered to human rights organisations seeking to investigate cases of reported killings, detentions and torture of people who are perceived, or identify, as LGBT in Chechnya.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is continuing to work closely with and provide support to the relevant non-governmental organisations that are supporting victims fleeing the persecution in Chechnya. This is in keeping with the Embassy's longstanding support for LGBT rights in Russia.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much inward investment the UK Trade Office in Raleigh, North Carolina is expected to generate in (1) 2017–18, and (2) 2018–19.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government Office in Raleigh, North Carolina will contribute to inward investment objectives in support of the Department for International Trade’s targets for the South East United States. These targets are set by sector. North Carolina has one of the fastest growing economies in the United States. Our office there will allow us to explore opportunities for collaboration with the many institutions and businesses located in Raleigh’s Research Triangle Park.Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what performance targets they have set for the UK Trade Office in Raleigh, North Carolina for (1) 2016–17, and (2) 2017–18.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The new UK Government Office in Raleigh, North Carolina will promote a broad range of British prosperity interests, including trade and investment and engagement with industry, research and development and higher education institutions. Performance objectives will be agreed with a broad range of HMG stakeholders, including the Department for International Trade, the UK Science and Innovation Network and policy teams in the British Embassy in Washington DC. The Office will be managed and supported by Her Majesty's Consul General in Atlanta.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the budget of the UK Trade Office in Raleigh, North Carolina for (1) 2016–17, and (2) 2017–18.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government Office in Raleigh will be run by the member of staff hired locally in the US. Costs are expected to be low and limited to salary, office space rental and discretionary budget for travel and representational activities.
Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis they decided to open an office in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
North Carolina has been one of the fastest growing states in the US in recent years in terms of both GDP and population and hosts numerous multinational corporations. Raleigh is home to the Research Triangle, centred on North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and contains one of the biggest clusters of life science companies in the US as well as a growing number of high-tech companies.Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what locations they considered for their new offices in the USA focused on international trade.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The USA is the UK’s single largest trade and investment partner, and the decision to open three new Government Offices in 2016 reflects our ambition to expand this economic partnership even further.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office considered a number of factors when deciding where to open these offices. The cities of Raleigh, North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and San Diego, California were judged to have the best combination of policy, research and trade and investment potential.